Paula is Ulster Champion

Lisburn Golf Club member Paula is making a habit of winning the Ulster Women’s Championship, having won the tournament two years ago.

The 18-year-old repeated the achievement with a super victory over Olivia Mehaffey (RCD Ladies) at Killymoon on Friday August 31.

Paula had been three-up, before her rival hit a birdie at the 15th, leaving Paula to go into the 18th just 1up.

“It’s good to be winning again, especially so late in the season,” Paula said. “I thought the season was over so to win a trophy is amazing.

“I was feeling quite nervous at the 18th but I managed to stay calm and hit it clean down the fairway. I didn’t make any mistakes,” the local girl added.

Paula led throughout the three day event, being the leading qualifier after the first day, leading throughout the rest of the tournament.

Her sister Laura qualified third, but was unfortunate to lose out on the final hole before the cut.

Meanwhile, it was something of a family affair with Paula’s father Paul caddying for her on Friday.

Paula is now busy out on the green at Lisburn training each day as she has been called up to join Team Ireland at the World Amateur Team Championships, which will be played in Turkey at the end of September.

Paula will join Leona Maguire, the 2011 British Strokeplay Champion and Stephanie Meadow, who is the current British Amateur Champion in Turkey from September 27-30, where they will play for the Women’s Espirito Santo Trophy.

The biennial championship, organised by the International Golf Federation, was first held in 1964 and recent tournaments have featured teams from upwards of forty countries. It is a strokeplay event, in which the best two individual scores from three count on each of the four days.

“I’ve represented the Girl’s Team for the past three years, and was with the Ladies last year,” Paula explained. “Although this is the first time I have been the World Championships.

“I’m a bit nervous, it will be great to have two such experienced players with me, I hope to have a good performance and put in a few good scores.”

Paula added: “I’d like to thank my coach Stephen Hamill for giving me a few good lessons over the summer and my dad who has put in a lot of time and effort for me.”